Written questions by McMurdock.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that vacant commercial properties owned by institutional landlords do not inhibit small businesses' access to affordable premises.

This Government is committed to revitalising our high streets and tackling vacancy. To that end, we have introduced High Street Rental Auctions, new powers for local authorities to bring vacant units back into use by auctioning the lease. We anticipate this will increase cooperation between landlords and local authorities regarding vacant units and make town centre tenancies more accessible and affordable for tenants, including SMEs and local businesses.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of business rates on the viability of small businesses operating on the high street.

The Government is committed to creating a fairer business rates system that supports small businesses and protects the high street. Over a third of properties (more than 700,000) already pay no business rates as they receive 100 per cent Small Business Rates Relief, with an additional c.60,000 benefiting from reduced bills as this relief tapers. To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. To target support towards smaller RHL properties, the Government intends to give the biggest cut to RHL properties currently paying the small business multiplier – those with a rateable value less than £51,000. The rates for any new business rate multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes, as well as the economic and fiscal context. Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025-26. As such, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. We have also frozen the small business multiplier, protecting over a million properties from inflationary bill increases.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of increased operating costs on the (a) employment retention and (b) pay levels of small businesses.

The Government recognises the need to protect the smallest employers. The Government has doubled the Employment Allowance, meaning that more than half of businesses with NIC liabilities will either gain or will see no change this year. As well as this, a Business Growth Service will make it easier for businesses across the UK to get the advice they need. The National Minimum Wage increases that came into effect on the 1st April 2025 follow the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission. To inform its recommendations, the Low Pay Commission considered the impact on business, competitiveness and the labour market, and undertook extensive research and stakeholder engagement. The Government’s Impact Assessment1, includes a detailed assessment of the impact of the rates on small and micro businesses, including the increase in pay levels and possible wider impacts on competitiveness and employment. 1The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2025 - Impact Assessment

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of challenges in finding work placements for T-level courses.

High quality industry placements are an important part of what makes T Levels a success. Overall completion rates on industry placements remain high, with 97.5% of students finishing their T Level last summer successfully completing their placement. However, the department recognises that schools and colleges face challenges securing high quality placements for their students in some sectors and regions.To address this, we have updated our delivery approaches to allow for greater flexibility in how placements can be delivered, including increasing the number of placement hours that can be completed remotely. We also continue to work closely with stakeholders to increase awareness and engagement on T Levels amongst employers of all types. We recently confirmed additional support for T Levels which includes a targeted Employer Support Fund for the 2025/26 financial year, and the extension of the department’s T Level provider and employer support packages for a further year.

Whether she plans to (a) expand and (b) promote non-academic education routes to support young people into employment.

As part of the government’s plan to ‘Get Britain Working’, we will launch a new Youth Guarantee for young people aged 18-21 in England to ensure that they are supported to access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or help to find work.The department is investing in and promoting a wide range of non-academic routes to support young people into employment, including:T Levels, a high quality technical education option for students aged 16 to 19 which includes a valuable workplace industry placement to prepare young people for work.Higher Technical Qualifications, which are occupation-focused level 4-5 qualifications, approved and quality-marked as providing the skills demanded in the workplace by employers.Widening the apprenticeships offer into a growth and skills offer which will include new foundation apprenticeships, a work-based offer giving more young people a foot in the door at the start of their working life.Skills Bootcamps, giving learners the chance to build sector-specific skills, with a job interview on completion.Free courses for jobs, giving eligible learners the chance to access high value level 3 qualifications for free, which can support them to gain higher wages or a better job.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of provisions in the Employment Rights Bill on (a) statutory sick pay and (b) dismissal procedures on small businesses.

The Government has published a robust set of Impact Assessments on all aspects of the Employment Rights Bill, available here: Employment Rights Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK. These include assessments on the impacts to small and micro businesses in line with the Better Regulation Framework. New dismissal procedures and statutory sick pay measures will apply to all businesses regardless of size. Whilst it is recognised that smaller businesses could potentially face disproportionate challenges due to their limited resources, the broader societal benefits of increased job security, productivity and fairness in the labour market justify the policies scope.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that infrastructure projects commissioned by public bodies prioritise local (a) employment and (b) contractors.

I refer the hon Member to the National Procurement Policy Statement published by the Cabinet Office on 13 February 2025, which states that in carrying out a procurement covered by the Procurement Act 2023, a contracting authority must have regard to the importance of maximising public benefit. Applying social and economic value requirements in procurement can have a significantly positive impact by broadening the public benefits that are delivered through the life of the contract.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance on the meaning of local employment in the context of public infrastructure contracts.

I refer the hon Member to the National Procurement Policy Statement published by the Cabinet Office on 13 February 2025, which states that in carrying out a procurement covered by the Procurement Act 2023, a contracting authority must have regard to the importance of maximising public benefit. Applying social and economic value requirements in procurement can have a significantly positive impact by broadening the public benefits that are delivered through the life of the contract.

What steps he is taking to increase public awareness of chronic migraine disease.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline, Headaches: Diagnosis and management of headaches in young people and adults, updated in December 2021, sets out best practice for healthcare professionals in the care, treatment, and support of people who suffer from headaches, including migraine. It aims to improve the recognition and management of headaches and migraine.At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with migraine, including the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for Neurology, the RightCare Headache and Migraine Toolkit, and the Neurology Transformation Programme. The GIRFT Programme published a National Speciality Report, which makes several recommendations in relation to improving the recognition and diagnosis of migraine by general practitioners. Additionally, the RightCare Headache and Migraine Toolkit sets out key priorities for improving care for patients with migraine, which includes correct identification and diagnosis of headache disorders.The Royal College of General Practitioners has developed two e-learning modules about migraine and cluster headaches, which aim to raise awareness amongst primary care clinicians about the different types of migraine and their associated symptoms, and how to differentiate between them.Over the last four years, a new class of drugs, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors, has been made available on the National Health Service for the prevention and treatment of episodic and chronic migraines. On 15 May 2024, Atogepant became the latest CGRP inhibitor for which the NICE has published guidance. The NICE recommended Atogepant for use as a preventive medication for the treatment of migraine on the NHS in England.

What steps his Department is taking to increase access to treatment for people with chronic migraine disease.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline, Headaches: Diagnosis and management of headaches in young people and adults, updated in December 2021, sets out best practice for healthcare professionals in the care, treatment, and support of people who suffer from headaches, including migraine. It aims to improve the recognition and management of headaches and migraine.At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with migraine, including the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme for Neurology, the RightCare Headache and Migraine Toolkit, and the Neurology Transformation Programme. The GIRFT Programme published a National Speciality Report, which makes several recommendations in relation to improving the recognition and diagnosis of migraine by general practitioners. Additionally, the RightCare Headache and Migraine Toolkit sets out key priorities for improving care for patients with migraine, which includes correct identification and diagnosis of headache disorders.The Royal College of General Practitioners has developed two e-learning modules about migraine and cluster headaches, which aim to raise awareness amongst primary care clinicians about the different types of migraine and their associated symptoms, and how to differentiate between them.Over the last four years, a new class of drugs, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors, has been made available on the National Health Service for the prevention and treatment of episodic and chronic migraines. On 15 May 2024, Atogepant became the latest CGRP inhibitor for which the NICE has published guidance. The NICE recommended Atogepant for use as a preventive medication for the treatment of migraine on the NHS in England.

What steps he is taking to increase research into (a) the causes of and (b) treatment options for chronic migraine disease.

The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) into a range of conditions, including chronic migraine. The NIHR promotes participation in research through the Be Part of Research service, which features chronic migraine research studies seeking participants. Further information is available at the following link: https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/ The NIHR also invites proposals for new research into the causes and treatment of conditions through its website, which is available at the following link: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the quality of mental health services in (a) England and (b) Essex.

NHS England uses the Oversight Framework to assess the quality and safety of all mental health inpatient services in England, including services in Essex. Risks and issues are escalated nationally using the quality risk and escalation framework.National Health Service commissioners in England are responsible for ensuring that mental health services are safe, effective, sustainable and meet the needs of the population.In addition, the Care Quality Commission carries out monitoring and assessments of providers in England to ensure they are providing safe and quality care to people using their services. The Care Quality Commission has a duty under the Mental Health Act 1983 to monitor how services exercise their powers and discharge their duties when patients are detained in hospital or are subject to community treatment orders or guardianship.

What recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of average wait times for people being referred for appointments for mental health support.

Long waits for mental health services are being driven by increasing demand to a system in desperate need of change. The Government is already responding by delivering new and innovative models of care in the community. As part of this, we have launched six neighbourhood adult mental health centres to bring together community, crisis and inpatient care. These operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.NHS England Planning Guidance for 2025/26 makes clear that for this year, to support reform and improvements, we expect all providers to reduce the variation in children and young people accessing services and improve productivity. We are also improving data quality so we can support providers to understand demand across their areas.As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government will recruit an additional 8,500 staff across children and adult mental health services.

What steps he is taking to improve communication around delays in appointment wait times for people seeking access to mental health support services.

Long waits for mental health services are being driven by increasing demand to a system in desperate need of change. The Government is already responding by delivering new and innovative models of care in the community. As part of this, we have launched six neighbourhood adult mental health centres to bring together community, crisis and inpatient care. These operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.NHS England Planning Guidance for 2025/26 makes clear that for this year, to support reform and improvements, we expect all providers to reduce the variation in children and young people accessing services and improve productivity. We are also improving data quality so we can support providers to understand demand across their areas.As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government will recruit an additional 8,500 staff across children and adult mental health services.

Whether she plans to review the 2030 deadline for the ban on new petrol and diesel cars, in the context of (a) existing infrastructure readiness and (b) domestic manufacturing capacity.

We are fully committed to phasing out the sale of new cars powered solely by internal combustion engines from 2030, providing leadership and investment clarity to support the rollout of charging infrastructure.We have committed £2 billion of funding to 2030 to support the automotive industry as we accelerate to zero emission vehicles. This will support R&D and the commercial scale up of innovative zero emission vehicle technologies, unlocking capital investment in zero emission vehicles, batteries and the wider supply chain.

What support is available to promote (a) lifelong learning and (b) digital inclusion for older people.

The department is investing in education and skills training for adults through the Adult Skills Fund, which fully funds or co-funds education and skills training for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning.This also funds the department’s Essential Skills entitlements, which provide the opportunity for fully-funded study for eligible adults who do not have essential literacy and numeracy skills up to and including level 2, and digital skills up to and including level 1. Essential Digital Skills Qualifications and digital Functional Skills qualifications up to level 1 are available for free under the digital entitlement for adults with low digital skills.Where qualifications are not appropriate for a learner, more flexible provision is available through ‘Tailored Learning’, which offers bespoke courses in essential digital skills at a pace that works for them, supporting their journey to get online.The ‘Free Courses for Jobs’ offer gives eligible adults the chance to access high value Level 3 qualification for free, which can support them to gain higher wages or a better job.Skills Bootcamps give adults the chance to build sector-specific skills, including in digital, with a job interview on completion for eligible learners.In January 2027, the department will introduce the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, which will broaden access to high-quality, flexible education and training. It will support individuals to learn, upskill and retrain across their working lives, up to the age of 60.

Whether the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review will assess (a) attainment data which shows girls continue to do better than boys across all headline measures and (b) the potential causes behind this trend.

Every child and young person should be able to achieve and thrive in education, regardless of their background. As in previous years, girls continue to do better than boys across all headline measures, and although the gap has narrowed compared to 2018/19, there is more work to do in order to close it. The department is committed to addressing this challenge.We aim to deliver these improvements and reduce gaps in outcomes through excellent teaching and leadership, a high-quality curriculum and a system which removes the barriers to learning.The government’s ask of the Curriculum and Assessment Review can be found in its terms of reference, and its interim report confirms the key areas for further work.The Review is looking closely at the key challenges to attainment for young people, and the barriers which hold children back from the opportunities and life chances they deserve.The Review is being informed by evidence and data in close consultation with education professionals and other experts, in addition to parents, children and young people, and other stakeholders such as employers, universities and trade unions.The government will consider any work to be taken forward and any changes it wishes to make in areas not prioritised by the Review.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate on employment levels in the UK automotive manufacturing sector.

The government does not hold data on how the Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate has affected automotive employment in the UK.We speak regularly to all the major UK automotive stakeholders to understand the health of the sector and factors impacting competitiveness. Government is committed to ensuring the transition to zero emissions works for industry. That is why we introduced significant changes to the Mandate, allowing for greater flexibility in meeting ZEV targets and extending the sale of hybrid vehicles.

What steps he is taking to ensure that NHS services are responsive to the (a) complex and (b) long-term needs of people living with chronic kidney disease.

NHS England has established a renal Clinical Reference Group to deliver change across the National Health Service, to accelerate improvements in the diagnosis of, and treatment for, people living with kidney disease.Increasing access to home therapies for kidney issues is a priority for NHS England, and this is reflected in its inclusion in the Renal Transformation toolkit, published in 2023. This recommends that 20% of all patients on kidney replacement treatment should receive treatment at home.NHS England is improving access to home dialysis for children, supported by a robust network of nurses and clinicians who can move care from hospitals to homes. This approach is working, with rates of home dialysis ranging from 64% to 76% across the 10 NHS paediatric dialysis centres.

What steps her Department is taking to tackle the causes of retail crime.

This Government is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and retail crime and its causes, as a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. Key to this is our plan to transform neighbourhood policing through our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. We will deliver 13,000 more neighbourhood police by the end of the Parliament, whilst also ensuring each community has a named, contactable officer to turn to.To help tackle retail crime, we will provide £5 million over the next three years to continue to fund a specialist analysis team within Opal, the national policing intelligence unit for serious organised acquisitive crime.We will also invest £2 million over the next three years in the National Business Crime Centre which provides a resource for both police and businesses to learn, share and support each other to prevent and combat crime.Further, the National Police Chiefs' Council will receive funding to give further training to police and retailers on prevention tactics. The training will aim to empower retailers to develop and implement tactics to prevent retail crime.Finally, the Home Office is providing funding through the Hotspot Action Fund programme to all 43 Police Force Areas in England and Wales in 2025/26, of £66.3 million. This funding is to implement additional, high visibility patrolling and problem-solving policing in serious violence and anti-social behaviour hotspots.